16 replies to this topic

[Randys67]

Doing a lot of agar work. Having FITS with bacteria and have not produced a shroom in months. Threw out 15 tubs which contaminated with mold. Just rebuilt lab and put plastic on floor and using ozone generator frequently. First year, I had frigging amazing harvest of PE. Now I'm struggling.

Used instant pot for a year ..no problems with popcorn. Switched to rye berries and almost all have bacteria. Putting verm in jars was a catastrophe...just spread bacteria everywhere

I think I've let my house get dirty with a dying old dog. Time for carpet shampoo and large ozone treatment

Anyone else familiar with ozone generators in our hobby for mold spores?

Thanks. After spending 20 hours on net trying to figure out my bacteria problems I decided to come backtothe experts. :)

Thanks for anything.

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[Randys67]

Bacteria choking jars. Grain is VERY dry when put in jars to sterilize for 90 min in instant pot. These are of course too old anyway. I soak 14-24 hrs (whenever I get up next day) and simmer /boil until swollen but not bursting. I watch my grains very carefully to avoid grain rupture. I hate this

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[jrh]

I think brown rice and popcorn don't have endospores and can be sterilized more easily. I use oats and sterilize in a PC for 2 hrs at 15 psi. In an IP you would need to go even longer... maybe 3 hrs?

 

Your photos are rather small, you can't zoom in to get any detail. Also, if grains are properly sterilized, it shouldn't matter if they've been sitting on the shelf for a day, a week, a month, a few months (I've never gone longer than a few months). I've taken to using upside-down lids rather than modified lids. As they come out of the IP or PC you can tighten the rings down, and then after the grains have been inoculated, untighten the rings 1/4 turn.

 

Also, if the LR and hall are dirty, don't do your work there. For me personally, wearing a mask helps prevent bacterial contamination as well.

 

Good luck!

[Randys67]

Th man! Will give those a try

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[bezevo]

one member  PC  for 90 min at 15 PSI then after it  cools . lets stand for 4 days to give any nastys that managed to survive a chance to germinate ..............not likely  ...but  ...  Then PC again for 9- min 15 PCI ..  they  claim never fail  ... 

 

i forgot who was  suggesting that protocol ........ Good Luck

p.s.  you can often find good deals on  PC at thrift stores  .. brands like All American and Presto carrie all replacement parts . i bought my two AA PC at  junk/thrift stores less than  $25  each .THRIFTY DEAls  ....I  bought one replacement part for one of AA  .. beats the retail $300 price ..

i love bargains

 

BEZ

Edited by bezevo, 25 March 2021 - 10:24 PM.

[rockyfungus]

For my instant pot with grains I use the max time. What is that 2.5 hours?

Do you vent the instant pot too? Leave the valve open let it steam out the top for 6-10 minutes then close the valve and let it get to pressure.
 

[jrh]

How much water do you use @rockyfungus?

[rockyfungus]

For the Instant pot? I fill it right up to the trivet. Instant pot kinda sucks as I can fit like 8 baby jars and maybe only 4 pints. It's my main sterilizer for tools, agar, plates, syringes, all the tiny things. 

[Randys67]

Im going 3 hrs now. Lol. Ty everyone!

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[Moonless]

When I do half pint jars of brown rice it is high pressure for 90 minutes in my instapot. For larger containers like tupperware or small grain bags I do 120 minutes at high pressure in the instapot. I've found that popcorn and brown rice are the most successful as soon as you go for birdseed then you start to have alot more problems.

[Saphroziac]

I feel you man. I've been struggling for about a year, and am finally out of the woods and am producing shrooms again. I have 3Oz and counting in the last 2 weeks! 3/7 Bins have fruited!

 

I switched to millet, let it soak for 1-3 days to let the mold spores germinate so they'lle be easy to kill.

After soak, I pressure cook the quart jars for 2+ hours, you can do it for 4 hours just make sure you have enough water.

Then with proper sterile technique, I transfer from agar plates I've grown out 3+ times. I was working directly on the table which was out of smooth airflow directly out of the filters and the turbulent air caused bacteria and mold. So make sure you are working within the middle of the flowhood filter.

 

I still get contams sometimes, but not literally every time like I experienced last year.

[bezevo]

ooops Correction in my above post QUOTED Below  i ment second PC time sould be 90 min not  9 min DOH

 

 

one member  PC  for 90 min at 15 PSI then after it  cools . lets stand for 4 days to give any nastys that managed to survive a chance to germinate ..............not likely  ...but  ...  Then PC again for 9- min 15 PCI ..  they  claim never fail  ... 

 

i forgot who was  suggesting that protocol ........ Good Luck

p.s.  you can often find good deals on  PC at thrift stores  .. brands like All American and Presto carrie all replacement parts . i bought my two AA PC at  junk/thrift stores less than  $25  each .THRIFTY DEAls  ....I  bought one replacement part for one of AA  .. beats the retail $300 price ..

i love bargains

 

BEZ

[Randys67]

Man ty everyone. Love this community and Mikey! :) I'm beginning to wonder if my grain spawn room is cursed. :(

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[Randys67]

I feel you man. I've been struggling for about a year, and am finally out of the woods and am producing shrooms again. I have 3Oz and counting in the last 2 weeks! 3/7 Bins have fruited!

I switched to millet, let it soak for 1-3 days to let the mold spores germinate so they'lle be easy to kill.
After soak, I pressure cook the quart jars for 2+ hours, you can do it for 4 hours just make sure you have enough water.
Then with proper sterile technique, I transfer from agar plates I've grown out 3+ times. I was working directly on the table which was out of smooth airflow directly out of the filters and the turbulent air caused bacteria and mold. So make sure you are working within the middle of the flowhood filter.

I still get contams sometimes, but not literally every time like I experienced last year.

Ty! I'll make sure about center!

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[Randys67]

I feel you man. I've been struggling for about a year, and am finally out of the woods and am producing shrooms again. I have 3Oz and counting in the last 2 weeks! 3/7 Bins have fruited!

I switched to millet, let it soak for 1-3 days to let the mold spores germinate so they'lle be easy to kill.
After soak, I pressure cook the quart jars for 2+ hours, you can do it for 4 hours just make sure you have enough water.
Then with proper sterile technique, I transfer from agar plates I've grown out 3+ times. I was working directly on the table which was out of smooth airflow directly out of the filters and the turbulent air caused bacteria and mold. So make sure you are working within the middle of the flowhood filter.

I still get contams sometimes, but not literally every time like I experienced last year.

Man I'll try!

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[Randys67]

When I do half pint jars of brown rice it is high pressure for 90 minutes in my instapot. For larger containers like tupperware or small grain bags I do 120 minutes at high pressure in the instapot. I've found that popcorn and brown rice are the most successful as soon as you go for birdseed then you start to have alot more problems.

You know I'm wondering. It does seem about when I switched from popcorn is when my bacteria began intantpotting them for 90 min. Have gone to 2.5 now even for popcorn

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[Randys67]

For my instant pot with grains I use the max time. What is that 2.5 hours?

Do you vent the instant pot too? Leave the valve open let it steam out the top for 6-10 minutes then close the valve and let it get to pressure.

No don't vent. Ill try. Ty man

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